Dark brown with darker scale outlines, often with white band on caudal peduncle, also with a blue iris and white or yellow outer edge of pectoral fin. Juvenile dark with red nape, upper back and spiny dorsal, and a dark ocellus at rear base of dorsal fin.

Size: grows to 17 cm.

Habitat: common along rocky shores.

Depth: 0-15 m.

Resident populations in the Galapagos Islands, Malpelo and Cocos, vagrants on the coast of Costa Rica and in the Pearl Islands, Panama.

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Range Description

This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific, and is found in the Galápagos, Malpelo and Cocos Islands. It has also been recorded as a vagrant on the coast of Costa Rica and in the Pearl Islands, Panama. Given its shallow-water, reef-associated habitat, this species is estimated to have an area of occupancy of less than 2,000 km².

This species is only known from three locations (Galápagos, Cocos and Malpelo Islands), but the majority of its adult poulation is thought to be restricted to the Galapagos. Given its association with shallow reefs, it is estimated to have an area of occupancy of less than 2,000 km². Regional experts support the plausible threat of the increased duration and frequency of ENSO events that can cause severe and rapid declines for restricted-range, shallow-water species in this region of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This species is listed as Vulnerable under Criterion B and D2.

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Trends

Population

This species is considered abundant in the Galápagos, and moderately common in Mapelo and Cocos Islands. However, only juveniles were observed at Malpelo and Cocos, suggesting that the Galápagos may have the only viable self sustaining population. More research on the population status and distribution is required.

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Threats

In the Eastern Tropical Pacific, severe localized fish species declines have occurred after strong ENSO events that result in shallow waters that are too warm and nutrient poor for extended periods of time (Grove 1985, Guzmán and Cortés 1992, Edgar et al. 2009). The frequency and duration of ENSO events in this region of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (e.g. the up-welling zone off the coast of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and the offshore islands) appears to be increasing (Glynn and Ault 2000, Soto 2001, Chen et al. 2004). Given this species' restricted distribution and shallow water habitat, oceanographic environmental changes, such as those associated with future ENSO events, may have detrimental effects on the survival of this species.

Populations in Galápagos declined by more than 50% with the 1997/98 El Niño, but were able to rebound within one year.

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Management

Conservation Actions

There are no conservation measures known for this species. However, this species is present in Marine Protected Areas in Galápagos, Malpelo and Cocos Islands (WDPA 2006). More research is needed to determine the population status and distribution of this species.

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Wikipedia

Stegastes beebei

Stegastes beebei (Galapagos ringtail damselfish or southern whitetail major), is a species of damselfish found on coral and rocky reefs at depths between 0 and 15 m. They are somewhat territorial, and chase away small intruders. They are omnivorous, grazing on algae and nibbling at small crustaceans and the tentacles of anemones. They are oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding. The eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.[1]

From:[2] The body is oval and compressed, with one pair of nostrils. The margin of the preopercle is serrated; the margin of bone under the eyes is serrated, without a notch in it and the bone before it. The mouth is small and protrusible with teeth in a single row, long and close-set. About 11 (10-12) lower gill rakers are present. They have a single continuous dorsal fin, and no projecting short spines at upper and lower base of tail fin. The caudal fin is bluntly forked. The scales are moderately large and rough; the body is scaled, and the head is largely scaled (the snout is scaled to the nostrils), as are the basal parts of the median fins. The lateral line has 20 scales (rarely 19). It is incomplete and ends under the end of the dorsal fin base. They grow up to 17 cm in length.

Galapagos ringtail damselfish are dark brown with darker scale outlines, often with a white band on the caudal peduncle. They have blue irises and white or yellow outer edges of the pectoral fin. Juveniles are dark with a red nape, upper back and spiny dorsal fin, and a dark ocellus at the rear base of the dorsal fin.